"Fred?" whispered Alison and sat on a seat of one of the tools in the gym. Her face was pale and she looked shocked.

"Fred?" asked Eva panicked and paled as well. Hunter quickly grabbed her arms and helped her to seat as well. The boys gathered around them in instant.

"Who the fuck is Fred?" asked Xander angrily.

"Alison, Alison, you still there?" Ashely's worried voice brought Alison back to her senses.

"Ash, are you sure it was him?" asked Alison trying to keep her cool face but her shaky voice gave away her anxiety.

"He was at my doorstep just 15 minutes ago looking for you. How could I not recognize him?" answered Ashley. "Alison you should see him. He has changed a lot. He looks so scary."

Alison stood quickly. "Ash, listen." she said hurriedly. "Don't go near him at all. I will tell Logan and Ed as well. Don't engage with him at any cost because of me."

"But what about you?" said Ashley. "He wasn't here to see me. He was asking about you. He wants you back, his exact words. What if he gets to know about Alex? What if he already know? They are both in gangs and you and Alex were not so discreet about your relationship."

Alison felt her heart skip a beat. She sat again when her legs felt like jelly. "Oh my God." she whispered. "I'm doomed."

"Alison what the fuck is wrong?" asked Damien worriedly and knelt in front of her. "Tell us what's wrong so we can help you."

"He is right, Al." said Ashley. "There are in mafia for God's sake. They can help you."

"I will call you later, Ash. take care of yourself." said Alison and ended the call.

"Fred has been released?" asked Eva. Hunter was rubbing her shoulders to comfort her. She closed her eyes when she saw Alison noding.

"And who is the fucker to you?" growled Xander slowly losing his patience.

"My ex." sighed Alison and closed her eyes. "He was arrested a year ago because he was in a gang. He took me as a hostage before police caught him."

"I'm gonna beat him to mush." said Xander and clenched his fists.

"What the hell." shouted Hunter and took a step back. "We should tell dad and Mason right now."

"No!" cried Alison and stood. "I don't want to make them worry. There is a probability that he doesn't come after me." she said and flinched at her poor attempt to cover things up.

"He has already searched for you didn't he?" asked Damien and Alison gulped and looked at him worriedly. She nodded. "Fuck!" cursed Damien and ran his hand through his hair.

"Hunter is right." said Eva and grabbed Alison's hand. "Your dad already knows about Fred. He can deal with him."

"I don't want anything to happen for him." said Alison and stared at Eva. "Maybe he has changed. He was once a good boy."

Eva stood up. "I doubt he has changed. If anything, I believe the juvie makes everyone worse." she said sternly. "I don't want him anywhere near you, Alie. I don't trust him."

She then turned on her heels and left the gym. Alison felt a warm hand on her cheek and looked to see Damien looking at her softly. "Hey, little one." he said. "You are not alone. You have us. You are safe."

"He is right." said Xander and put a hand on her shoulder. "If he wants to hurt you, he should first walk past from our corpse."

"Just make sure you won't hide anything from us." added Hunter quickly and the twins agreed with him.

Alison nodded and hugged Damien around his neck. She felt warm as he kissed her temple and hugged her to his chest. She was safe with them, that's was for sure.

************************

An hour later, Alex came to the mansion. Alison had called and told him what had happened. She believed he deserved to know more than anyone. But what she didn't expect was to see him that much angry. They were in her room. She had sat crossed-legged on her bed while Alex was pacing in front of her. His face was stone cold and he was clenching and unclenching his hands back and forth.

"Alex!" she whined and hid her face in her hands. "Please sit down. You are creating a hole on the floor and making me feel nauseous."

Alex stopped and sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his face. "Fuck!" he muttered under his breath.

Alison moved and sat beside him and rubbed his arm. "I'm sorry." she said softly. "I should have not told you."

Alex's head snapped toward her. "Of course you should have told me." he growled. "I'm your fucking boyfriend. This is related to me more than anyone. I'm gonna kill that bastard."

"Alex!" she said and Alex looked at her questioningly. "I know you are so angry. But I want you to promise me one thing."

"God, no." said Alex and moved away a bit. "I know that face. I can't stay back and watch him hurt you."

"But he has not done anything yet." reasoned Alison.

Alex stood up and narrowed his eyes at her. "Why do you defend him?" he asked. "Have you forgotten what he did to you?"

Alison stood as well and grabbed his hands. She stood close to him leaving almost no space between. Alex groaned and closed his eyes in frustration. "You are using your charms again. You know my vulnerability." he grumbled but sighed when he saw her eyes looking at him pleadingly. He put his arms around her waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"I have not forgotten about what he did." she said and rubbed his back. "But I have not forgotten about who he was too. He was once a sweet and innocent boy. Maybe he has changed back to his true self and I don't want him in trouble again. And don't be worried. I won't leave you and go back to him. He is my past and you are my present and future, my love."

Alex hummed in response and kissed her neck which caused her to shiver. He tilted his head up and placed his lips on top of hers and kissed her slowly and softly. Nothing like the taste of her lips could calm him down. It was like water on fire. He smirked when she pressed their bodies more and kissed him harder.

"I won't hurt him." said Alex after he pulled away. His hot breath fanned on her neck and send tingles all over her body. He pulled away and stared at her eyes sternly. "But if I see him around you, I won't be reasonable."

Alison nodded. "Thank you." she said softly and traced her finger on his cheek and a moment later he was kissing her hard again.

********************************

One week passed and there was no sign of Fred. Alex was on edge all the time, glaring at any male specious that would pass from Alison's side. Xander, Damien, and Hunter were stuck by her side, escorting her where ever she wanted to go when Alex was not available. Mason had trusted the four boys to take care of Alison and had focused his men on fiding Volkov. And after a week they all were slowly thinking that Fred will not show up at all. But how they were wrong ...

Alison was walking toward the school parking lot with Jess and Ayda. She was supposed to meet Alex and her brothers there. The three friends stepped into the parking lot while giggling about something that Ayda had said. Alison looked up to find familiar faces of her brothers or Alex, but her smile faded as her eyes got locked with another pair of familiar eyes.

He had stood there, leaning on his motorbike while smoking a cigarette. He was in a black t-shirt and jeans. He had become taller, as tall as Damien and Xander or Alex. His lean body was muscular and he was emitting an aura of confidence. There were no emotions on his face as he stared back at her. Yet Alison felt she was exposed under his intense gaze.

"Alison?" asked Ayda and put a gentle hand on Alison's shoulder when she felt her become rigid.

"It's alright, guys." said Alison not taking her eyes from him. "See you later." she said and slowly walked toward Fred. There was no point in hiding from him or trying to hide behind the shield of her boyfriend or brothers. She should face and talk with Fred sooner or later.

She examined him more as she walked toward him. His hair was cut so short on the sides of his head and gelled back neatly on the top of his head. There were tattoos on each of his knuckles and a big scorpion had been tattooed on the side of his neck. He had changed a lot for sure. But the thing that had changed a lot was his eyes. Those black eyes that once held so much love and happiness were now looking at her emotionlessly, sending chills down her spine.

"You have become much more beautiful than what I've imagined." he said as she stood in front of him, a meter away. His voice had matured as well. It was deep and raspy. He smirked as he eyed her up and down and threw away his cigarette.

"Fred," said Alison with a firm voice. "How did you get out?"

"Not happy to see me, babe?" he said and made a fake hurt face. "I should admit I expected a warmer welcome from my girlfriend."

"I'm not your girlfriend." said Alison and crossed her arms to stop them from shaking. "You lost the privilege the moment you put that knife on my neck."

"Oh, yes." said Fred, and a shadow passed from his eyes for a second before it was gone leaving his eyes emotionless again. "I have heard the bullshit rumor about you being with someone else. I didn't like the rumors, Alison. I don't remember letting you be with someone else." he snarled and clenched his fists and took a step forward.

"Letting me?" scoffed Alison but took a step back. "Who are you to let me? Fred, get this through that thick skull of yours. You are no one to me anymore. Have you forgotten what you did to me?"

"I was never going to hurt you." snapped Fred. His eyes were now looking down at her with such anger that could kill. "You are still and will be my fucking girlf..."

"Alison!" Alex's voice boomed through the parking lot and Fred's eyes snapped behind Alison and glared at someone behind her.

Alison sighed in relief. She was freaking out slowly. She turned and saw Alex and Simon walking toward her. Damien, Xander, and Hunter were beside them, clenching their fists. The five of them look like they were ready to tear Fred apart.

Alison started to walk to them, but a hand grabbed her wrist hard and pulled her to a hard chest. Alison gasped as Fred's arm circled around her body and kept her tight in his grasp. "I thought I told you, Al." gritted Fred next to her ear as she struggled in his strong arms that had restricted her movments. "I don't like to share."

"Take your fucking hands off of her." growled Alex and his hand went to his waistband where Alison knew his gun was hidden under his shirt.

"You won't dare to do that here in daylight." scoffed Fred, challenging Alex.

"Test us." snarled Xander as his hand too went for his gun, just like his other two brothers and Simon.

Alison gritted her teeth. "I fucking hate to be held hostage." she said and stomped on Fred's foot hard and throw her head back and hit his nose with her head.

Fred groaned in pain and released her to cradle his now bloody nose. Alison ran to Alex who quickly pushed her behind him protectively.

"If you value your life, fuck off and never show up again." said Damien feeling proud of his sister for what she just did.

Fred rubbed the blood off of his nose with the back of his hand. His eyes got fixed on Alison who was peeking from behind Alex and he smirked a bit. "You have become so fierce. I like it." he said and spat blood on the floor.

Alex growled possessively and pushed her more behind him.

"Don't fucking talk to her." yelled Hunter slowly losing his patience.

"Hunter, everyone is looking." pleaded Alison and hid her face in Alex's back feeling everyone in the parking lot staring at them.

"Stay away from her and I would not kill you." said Alex and then scoffed as he looked at the tattoo of the scorpion on Fred's neck. "I never liked your fucking gang. I won't hesitate to destroy you all if you show your nasty face again."

"No need to twist your panties, West." said Fred, looking at the angry boys in front of her and weighing his options. There was no way he could beat them all, alone. He needed to have Alison alone.

"Fred." said Alison softly and came out from behind Alex. "Please go. I don't want anyone get hurt."

Fred stared at her. The sight of her pleading eyes still managed to make him soft. He mounted his motorbike and revived the engine. "I will do as you wish." he said and then turned his bike and rode out of the school gates.

Alex quickly turned Alison toward him and hugged her tightly. "You're fine?" he asked concerned.

"I'm fine." nodded Alison and looked at all of them. "I'm just a bit shocked. That's all."

Hunter stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug. "You should have come to one of us the moment you saw him." he said.

Xander nodded and crossed his arms. "Hunter is right." he said. "You should have called one of us, Alie. He could have hurt you."

"We were in school perimeter." reasoned Alison. "He wouldn't hurt me here."

"Yet you should be more careful." said Damien. "He is not the same boy you knew once. Scorpion gang is one of the most dangerous ones in the city."

Alex nodded. "He is right." he said. "They are known for being irrational and devious. You should be careful more than before. You won't be going to leave your classes without one of us from now on. Okay?"

"Okay." said Alison. "Let's go home, please."

Alex nodded and gently guided her to her brother's car and opened a door for her. Alison step in front of him. "Sorry to make you worried." she said quietly.

Alex's eyes softened at the sight of his agitated girlfriend. "Don't be." he said and lightly kissed her on the lips. "I wanted to take you to eat ice cream so maybe that frown would disappear from your face, but it's too dangerous."

"I know." said Alison and stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. "See you tomorrow." she said and sat in the car. Alex closed the door and the next moment Damien drove out of the school parking lot.

"We will say what happened to dad and Mason." said Damien. "Maybe they decided we can go and teach that fucker a lesson."

"Okay." said Alison and frowned. Fred had never hurt her physically. If anything, he was always gentle with her even when he had her hostage against the police. Deep in her heart, she didn't want anything to happen to him. But the image of his void and cold eyes caused her to shiver in fear. Something had definitely changed in him. It looked like someone had taken away his emotions and left a monster behind. Does spending time in juvie did this to everyone? She sighed and massaged her forehead.

Hunter felt her uneasiness and moved closer to her. He put an arm around her shoulder and put her head on his shoulder and kissed it. "Sorry for what you went through." he said. "Trust us, Alie. We will protect you."

Alison hummed in response and snuggled closer to his side and let his warmth engulf her body and the feeling of safety that he was offering calm down her heart.

Soon they reached the mansion and Alison walked to her room. She took a hot bath in attempt to relax. Once she came out she saw the notification light on her phone. Thinking it must be Alex, she walked and took her phone only to see a message from an unknown number.

I didn't want what happened today.

please forgive me for my bad behavior.

But Alie, I really need to talk to you. I need your help.

If you still feel a bit of liking toward me, please come to the address below, alone.

I really need your help, Alie, like really need your help. I will wait for you tomorrow afternoon.

You know that I never can hurt you.

Fred

Alison sat on her chair and read the message over and over. She rubbed her face and groaned frustrated. Should she go? Could she trust him? Would he really not hurt her? What if he really needed her help? What if he wanted to change back to who he was and needed her help?

There was only one thing in her mind. She couldn't be sure of any of those thoughts if she wouldn't go to meet him tomorrow.